jdanton

8 PM on CNN

Down to 2 participants. Here's a place to put comments.

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Author: Memoirs of a Sleepless Mind, a book you CAN judge by its cover.

Jonesy

Your comment will go down in history as being the turning point of human civilization.

We all bow down to such a monumental contribution.

EvilMonkey

J. Give this a bump tomorrow and I will stickie it.

poetrychic

it's not going to be the same without edwards

__________________
"it was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation, yes we can!"

CosmicRocker

it's gonna be a SMACKDOWN !!

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Traveling Wilburys (l to r)

Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, George Harrison, Roy Orbison

jdanton

I'm hoping, though I don't know why, that with just two candidates we might get some more interesting questions, and more details.

What's non combative here is that there are very slight distinctions between the goals of these two people that they're virtually indistinquishable.

If you make a list of what each of them wants to do, the lists are alike.

Domestic policies will go through the same congress. Both want to get us out of Iraq, and I'm sure both will do so as quickly/safely as practical, with "wiggle room" for dynamics changing over the next year.

We may have more "I agree with" than "no, that's wrong"

__________________
Author: Memoirs of a Sleepless Mind, a book you CAN judge by its cover.

MarkMiller

Just a reminder of those that have dropped out of the race.

Democrat Candidates who have withdrawn their candidacy


Senator Joe Biden (Campaign site)
Main article: Joe Biden presidential campaign, 2008



See also: Political positions of Joe Biden Joe Biden, born November 16, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. Senator from Delaware and candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988, although he ceased active campaigning in 1987, before the first primaries. Biden first hinted that he might run in 2008 in a December 8, 2004, radio interview with host Don Imus, saying: "I'm going to proceed as if I'm going to run." Biden had repeatedly stated his intention to run, and did so as early as 21 March 2006. Biden's Federal Leadership PAC is "Unite Our States", which tracks Biden's public appearances and policy positions. On 7 January 2007, when asked by Tim Russert on Meet the Press, "Are you running for President?" he responded, "I am running for President." He also said he planned to create an exploratory committee by the end of the month.[21][22][23] On January 31, 2007, he officially signed the papers with the FEC to run for president. He dropped out of the race on January 3, 2008 after a poor performance in the Iowa caucus.

• U.S. Senator from Delaware: 1973–Present

Senator Chris Dodd (Campaign site)
Main article: Chris Dodd presidential campaign, 2008



See also: Political positions of Chris Dodd Christopher Dodd, was born May 27, 1944, in Willimantic, Connecticut and is a five-term U.S. Senator from that state. Dodd was reported to be a likely contender for the Democratic Vice President slot on John Kerry's ticket in 2004. In May 2006, Dodd said he has "decided to do all the things that are necessary to prepare to seek the presidency in 2008", including hiring staff, raising money and traveling around the country in the next few months to enlist support.[24] On Jan. 11, 2007, Dodd announced his Presidential candidacy on the "Imus in the Morning" radio show with Don Imus.[25] As a result of unpromising results in the Iowa Caucus on January 3, 2008, Dodd dropped out of the race for presidency.

• U.S. Representative from the Connecticut's 2nd congressional district: 1975–1981
• U.S. Senator from Connecticut: 1981–Present

Former Senator John Edwards

(Campaign site)
Main article: John Edwards presidential campaign, 2008



See also: Political positions of John Edwards John Edwards, born June 10, 1953 in South Carolina, is a former U.S. Senator from North Carolina. As a 2004 presidential candidate, Edwards was famed for his populist message in his "Two Americas" speech and also for his optimistic, positive attitude. This was evidenced by his refusal to attack his opponents. In the primaries, Sen. Edwards had strong come-from-behind showings in the crucial states of Iowa, Oklahoma, Virginia, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Georgia. On February 5, 2005, Edwards spoke at the New Hampshire Democratic Party's fundraising dinner. On August 18, 2005, Edwards traveled to Waterloo, Iowa, to deliver an address to the Iowa AFL-CIO, a potential key supporter in the Iowa caucuses. On December 26, 2006, Edwards formally announced his candidacy.[26] On January 30, 2008, Edwards ended his bid for the Presidency[27]

• U.S. Senator from North Carolina: 1999–2005
• Director of the Center on Poverty, Work, and Opportunity at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: 2005–2006

Representative Dennis Kucinich (Campaign site)
Main article: Dennis Kucinich presidential campaign, 2008



See also: Political positions of Dennis Kucinich Dennis Kucinich, born October 8, 1946, in Cleveland, Ohio. Ohio Congressman, former Mayor of Cleveland, and 2004 Democratic primary candidate. Dennis Kucinich is known by many as "The Peace Candidate", having received the 2003 Gandhi Peace Award. Kucinich opposed the war in Iraq and the Patriot Act. Under Kucinich's plan, United Nations peace-keepers would go to Iraq if the Iraqi citizens desire their presence. The Congressman re-introduced legislation to create a United States Department of Peace via HR 808 on February 5, 2007. He is currently campaigning to end the war in Iraq by cutting off funding, if such measures are necessary. He is in support of peaceful diplomatic relations with Iran, and all nations. Kucinich has received many awards praising his courage and work for peace.[28][29] On December 12, 2006, Kucinich announced his candidacy at an event at Cleveland's City Hall.[30] He withdrew from the race on January 25th, and turned his focus to his re-election for his congressional seat. [31]

• Mayor of Cleveland: 1978–1979
• U.S. Representative from Ohio's 10th congressional district: 1997–Present

Governor Bill Richardson (Campaign site)
Main article: Bill Richardson presidential campaign, 2008



See also: Political positions of Bill Richardson Bill Richardson, born November 15, 1947, in Pasadena, California, Governor of New Mexico, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Secretary of Energy and U.S. Representative. After reportedly informing party leaders in February 2005 of his intention to run for president, on December 7, 2006, Richardson said "I am running" during his response to a prospective question about the 2008 presidential election by Fox News, however he later retracted the decision and said he would make an official decision by January. On May 21, 2007, he officially declared his candidacy.[32] On January 9, 2008 he pulled out of the race.[33]

• U.S. Representative from the New Mexico's 3rd congressional district: 1983–1997
• United States Ambassador to the United Nations: 1997–1998
• United States Secretary of Energy: 1998–2001
• Governor of New Mexico: 2003–Present

Former Governor Tom VilsackTom Vilsack, born December 13, 1950, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, former Governor of Iowa, Chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council. Many suspected Vilsack was high on the list of potential running mates for John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential Election. In 2005, Vilsack established Heartland PAC,[34] a political action committee aimed at electing Democratic Governors and other statewide candidates. Unlike the PACs of potential candidates, Heartland PAC is not a federal PAC and can not contribute to federal candidates. He filed papers with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) to run for President on November 9, 2006.[35] He dropped out of the race on 23 February 2007 citing fundraising woes. He has since given his support to Hillary Rodham Clinton.[36][37]

• Governor of Iowa: 1999-2007

MarkMiller

Just a reminder of all who are still running.

Active candidates with national campaigns

Senator Hillary Clinton
(Campaign site)
Main article: Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2008


See also: Political positions of Hillary Rodham Clinton Hillary Rodham Clinton, born October 26, 1947, in Illinois, U.S. Senator from New York and former First Lady of the United States. Clinton announced the formation of her exploratory committee on January 20, 2007, with a post on her website.[1] She has delivered several speeches intended to reach out to moderates, according to analysts. She has also been holding fundraising meetings, including meeting with women from Massachusetts, a key constituency of potential rival and 2004 nominee John Kerry; however, these activities are consistent with the lead up to a campaign for re-election to her Senate seat in 2006. If elected, Clinton would be the first female president. Clinton announced on January 20, 2007, that she will run in 2008 (the same day she announced the formation of an exploratory committee). She has filed the official paperwork for an exploratory committee.[2] She placed first in the New Hampshire primary on January 8, 2008 and placed first in the Nevada caucuses on January 19 but fell one delegate short of Barack Obama. She placed first in the Florida primary on January 29, 2008, but was awarded no delegates, due to a prior ruling of the party unseating the state representatives because of the early date.

• First Lady of the United States: 1993–2001
• U.S. Senator from New York: 2001–present

Former Senator Mike Gravel
(Campaign site)
Main article: Mike Gravel presidential campaign, 2008


See also: Political positions of Mike Gravel Mike Gravel, born May 13, 1930, in Springfield, Massachusetts. U.S. Senator from Alaska from 1969 to 1981 and an active candidate for Vice President in 1972. He is most known for playing a key role in ending the draft during the Vietnam War through the release of the Pentagon Papers and through staging a one-man filibuster for 5 months. He is also notable for advocating a guaranteed annual income, which he termed a "citizen's wage," of US$5,000 per person, regardless of whether the person worked. On April 13, 2006, Gravel announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination. His policy announcements to date include support for direct democracy, FairTax, and withdrawal from Iraq. Mike Gravel filed with the FEC in April according to various news sources.[3][4] The FEC's site has listed his reports since July.[5] MSNBC falsely reported that Gravel had dropped out of the race on January 3, 2008 after a poor performance in the Iowa caucuses. His website confirmed that he is still in the race.

• Alaska State Representative: 1962–1966 (Speaker: 1965–1966)
• U.S. Senator from Alaska: 1969–1981

Senator Barack Obama
(Campaign site)
Main article: Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2008


See also: Political positions of Barack Obama Barack Obama, born August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. Senator from Illinois. A "draft Obama" movement began with his well-received 2004 Democratic National Convention keynote address. Obama was the featured speaker at Iowa Senator Tom Harkin's annual steak fry, a political event favored by presidential hopefuls in the lead-up to the Iowa caucus. He was endorsed by talk show host Oprah Winfrey in 2006.[6] Various recent opinion polls have seen Obama trailing only Hillary Clinton in several polls.[7] If elected, he would become the first African-American President of the United States. Obama announced on February 10, 2007, that he will run in 2008. He has filed the official paperwork.[8] Obama placed first in the January 3, 2008 Iowa caucuses, followed by Edwards and Clinton. He has also placed first in the January 26, 2008 South Carolina primary.

• Illinois State Senator: 1996–2004
• U.S. Senator from Illinois: 2005–Present

MarkMiller

I went to look, but could find no information on whether or not all three would be debating or if it's just Clinton and Obama.

Environment Man

Well Edwards advocates for the poor from the same position as the Kennedys and the same way I would like to advocate for the poor:

From a position of being personally rich.